Personal Training in QLD

Personal Training in New Zealand

Are you Positively or Negatively addicted to exercise?*

Tuesday, 8 May 2018, By Christopher Jovcevski

When we think of a negative addiction our minds tend to go
straight to drugs, alcohol, sex and other substances that can be
abused. Surely something as healthy as exercise can't be a negative
addiction can it?

Throughout my time in the health and fitness industry as a
Personal Trainer I have seen a lot of addiction transfer. Many
people are in a negative cycle of addiction and are starting their
journey from a poor health position as circumstance of their life
decisions. Tough place to start from right!

They usually begin their journey by already being addicted
to

Alcohol

Comfort Food

Drugs

Smoking

Social Media

What I have seen is that most people in this situation have an
addictive personality and throw themselves into exercise to replace
the current addiction. Not thinking about the 'why' or the 'how'
before getting right into it.

Just like anything that can give you a release of dopamine,
exercise can become an addiction. It can become a really healthy
addiction and an unhealthy addiction as well.

This is how you recognise where you're at Healthy Exercise
Habits

Done most days and sometimes multiple times a day. This is done
on a consistent basis

It is enjoyed! And makes you feel proud and happy

Is completed in a positive environment

Is viewed and felt as a positive progression towards a bigger
picture and long term result, not just the week to week or day to
day

Is partnered with the correct amount of nutrition to cater
around the amount of exercise you are doing

Is process focused as well as balanced out with an outcome
focus. However, 'process' being the focus point

You are progressing forwardly towards a moving target and
celebrating your successes along the way

You are proud of yourself because you have earned your keep and
didn't take shortcuts

Doesn't have feelings of guilt or punishment associated with
it

Unhealthy Exercise Habits

Is done on a sporadic basis dependant on mood, calories
consumed and other circumstances. Sometimes for hours in a
day.

Is seen and felt as a punishment for you being 'bad', in
whatever guilt fuelled feeling

Is partnered with too little food as there is a feeling of fear
of eating more

Is completely outcome and results focused, the process is not
given any thought and is never changed

There is very little or no progression

Is done too much and throughout pain, with a no pain no gain
attitude

Trying to manipulate your weight on the scales through
training.

Weighing yourself more than once per week

Is used as a tool to escape reality rather than dealing with
issues that need resolving

Unable to see the physical changes to yourself as you have a
cloud of negativity around the way in which you view yourself

This article was written so that you can recognise that
exercise, just like anything, if abused can have a negative impact
on life, HOWEVER if not abused and is enjoyed it can be the
healthiest addiction in the world! It has all of the physical and
emotional benefits to help you get fit, healthy and live your life
in a proud and positive head space.

"We live today in a world in which nobody believes choices
should have consequences. But may I tell you the great secret our
culture seeks to deny? You cannot escape the consequences of your
choices. Time runs in only one direction."